Section VII
Right to Gather Information
Freedom of Information Act
- gives any person access to all records kept by Federal agencies
- agency must have created record and be in possession of it
- exemptions exist and are interpreted liberally
Exemptions to FOIA
- executive order/national security
- housekeeping practices
- statutory exemption
- trade secrets
- working papers/discovery
- personal privacy
- law enforcement
- financial records
- geological data
Other Laws Relating to Information Access
- Sunshine Act
- state open meetings laws
- state open records laws
Laws that Restrict Access to Information
- General Education Provisions Act
- Federal Privacy Law
- Criminal History Privacy Laws
- state statutes